Search: Chemistry, Climate Change

We study through atmospheric observations, computer modeling, and laboratory experiments interesting couplings between atmospheric chemistry and climate and their implications for life on earth – from billions of years ago to the near future. We currently have two main foci: Measurements from NASA U2 spyplanes and high altitude balloons, coupled with modeling and analysis, allow us to better quantify the sources and sinks of important direct or indirect greenhouse gases such as CO2, N2O, CH4, and H2 in today's atmosphere. Laboratory experiments simulating the atmospheres of early Earth and Mars allow us to probe whether or not hydrocarbon ("soot") hazes may have provided an additional greenhouse effect or an "antigreenhouse" effect and thereby affected the surface temperatures and the stability of liquid water in the first 2 billion years of these planets' histories.